THE House Quad Comm on Friday hailed the arrest of Tony Yang (a.k.a. Yang Jian Xin), elder brother of controversial former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s presidential adviser Michael Yang, calling it a “major breakthrough” in its investigation into what appears to be a large-scale organized crime syndicate involving Chinese nationals in connivance with corrupt Philippine officials.
The mega-panel—composed of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights and Public Accounts—described the arrest as a crucial step in exposing the criminal network hiding behind legitimate businesses and vowed to intensify efforts to hold all involved accountable.
“This is a major breakthrough in our fight against illegal drugs and organized crime. Tony Yang’s arrest exposes illicit activities disguised as legitimate businesses,” said Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall chair of the Quad Committee and head of the committee on dangerous drugs.
“For too long, these individuals have operated with impunity, using corporate fronts to conceal their illegal operations. This arrest strengthens our commitment to pursuing justice and holding everyone involved in these syndicates accountable, no matter how well-connected they may be,” Barbers added.
Tony Yang was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, with assistance from the Bureau of Immigration and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for being classified as an undesirable alien.
His company, Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation, has been under scrutiny for its ties to various illegal activities. He is suspected of smuggling drugs and facilitating illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Cagayan de Oro City, as well as in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga.
Barbers lauded law enforcement for their swift action and noted that the arrest complements the Quad Comm’s ongoing efforts to hold Michael Yang (a.k.a. Yang Hongming) accountable.
Michael Yang, a former economic adviser to then President Duterte, is the subject of an arrest order issued by the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs after being cited in contempt for repeatedly failing to appear before the panel.
He is linked to a P3.6-billion drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga, where drugs were seized from a warehouse owned by Empire 999 Realty Corp., a company connected to him.
Michael Yang has been identified as a key figure in the congressional investigation into the connections between illegal POGOs, drug trafficking, land grabbing by some Chinese nationals, and extrajudicial killings tied to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
“The capture of Tony Yang strengthens the case against his brother, Michael Yang, who has continuously evaded our summons. We will not stop until we uncover the full scope of their involvement in illegal activities that endanger our people and threaten national security,” Barbers said.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the committee on public order and safety, emphasized the significance of Tony Yang’s arrest in advancing the investigation into illegal POGOs and drug smuggling.
Fernandez said Tony Yang would be critical to exposing the full extent of operations involving prominent figures and businesses.
“Tony Yang’s capture is a crucial development in our investigation. His company, Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation, has been implicated in drug smuggling and illegal POGO operations,” Fernandez said.
“We expect him to cooperate and provide valuable testimony that will help us uncover the intricate web of criminal operations operating under the radar,” he added.
Fernandez also highlighted Tony Yang’s connection to dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, a business associate suspected of facilitating financial transactions for these illegal operations.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council is currently investigating these transactions, believed to involve drug trafficking, illegal POGO activities and money laundering.
“The financial links between Tony Yang and Alice Guo are part of a larger conspiracy that we are determined to unravel,” Fernandez said.
He continued, “The matrix we’ve uncovered reveals a sophisticated network spanning multiple illegal activities, and we will not rest until all those involved are held accountable.”
